Mage Hunter (1)
Mysterious assailant. The guy was peculiar in all sorts of ways. A mage dressed in martial arts robes, wielding a sword-shaped staff, and unleashing slashing attacks. Sure, normal people were rare in this line of work, but this one stood out even among the weirdos.
Of course, nothing was as bizarre as the current situation.
"Huh...? I didn't see this plot twist coming...?"
"Heh heh heh."
Kim Gwa-jang's voice carried a hint of fluster. I turned to look, and there he was—his face unusually stiff.
"You're a witch?"
"Mm..."
The usual Kim Gwa-jang would have slyly replied, 'What do you think?' But for some reason, no comeback came. Was he so thrown off that he couldn't even speak?
This reaction pretty much confirmed it—Kim Gwa-jang was a witch.
'So what?'
Whether Kim Gwa-jang was a witch or not had nothing to do with me. I'd known he was shady back when I was still a regular guy. Mage, witch—didn't matter. Our relationship wouldn't change, so there was no reason to freak out.
"I knew, yeah..."
"???"
I voiced my thoughts, and Kim Gwa-jang scratched his head, averting his gaze awkwardly. His cheeks even flushed a bit.
...What the hell was this guy about to say?
"I wanted to reveal it in a more dramatic moment..."
"Pardon?"
"If we're being precise... I was saving it for the climax of my dedicated episode..."
Kim Gwa-jang was Kim Gwa-jang, through and through. He was speaking Korean, but not a word made sense. What was this about episodes and climaxes?
'Calm down, calm down.'
I nearly wasted time deciphering his nonsense, but I pulled myself together. Couldn't afford distractions with an enemy right in front of me.
"Having someone else spill it... feels a bit embarrassing..."
"Cut the weird talk and stay back."
"Okaay..."
I shoved the babbling Kim Gwa-jang behind me. He was a hazard, and keeping him nearby might rattle my focus.
"Not gonna let this slide?"
"Nope, so just come at me."
"Ehey... that's a problem..."
The guy sighed and raised his sword-shaped staff. I responded in kind, forming hand seals.
Couldn't use deep-sea magic because of the Ma Tower, so I'd stick to regular spells if possible.
"Target is space, 10m wide, slash and cleave it."
He seized the initiative, and his incantation structure was bizarre. Not like a cultist's prayer to a god, nor a mage's poetic chant. It was like inputting values into a computer.
At the same time, mana took form, launching as invisible blades.
'Fast!'
I'd heard the chant and gauged the range, but I barely dodged. Terrifying speed.
"Target is space, 5m tall, slash and cleave it thrice."
This time, the attack split into three. But that wasn't the end—one targeted Kim Gwa-jang.
"Do-cheol, block that."
"Understood!"
I summoned Do-cheol in a flash and sent him to Kim Gwa-jang's side. He immediately cast a defensive spell. The slash embedded in the barrier but failed to cleave through, dissipating instead.
"Whoa!"
"Are you alright?!"
"Uh... seems fine..."
That spell had speed but lacked raw power. Do-cheol could handle it.
"You know what I need you to do, right?"
"I'll protect with my life!"
"Good. Do it."
I tossed Do-cheol some deep-sea matter and ordered him to guard Kim Gwa-jang. To avoid a fate worse than death, he'd protect him desperately. That settled Kim Gwa-jang.
I eyed the guy catching his breath and began my own chant.
"Beasts slumbering in the depths, awaken from your sleep at your master's call."
The chant ended, and I infused mana into the ground. Mana threads upheaved the earth, linking to the insects dormant below.
Unhatched eggs, pupae, dying bugs. Beneath human cities lay another city, and as their lord, I summoned my subjects.
[[[Scrtch-scr tch, scrtch-scr tch.]]]
Bugs crawled from soil cracks, tile gaps, sewer holes. Their numbers defied counting—the city blackened in seconds.
"Advance, destroy, advance, destroy."
Scrtch-scr tch, scrtch-scr tch.
Not evolved or giant, but these bugs had gorged on my mana. Tougher, harder to kill than normals. Billions of them—even a mage would struggle.
"Hold up, what kind of spell is that...?"
"Hm?"
Surrounded by the black horde, the man's reaction was off. Not threatened—more like Kim Gwa-jang earlier. Like bumping into something unexpected.
"You know Jang Chun?"
"...?"
A random name popped from his mouth. I was about to say I'd never heard it, but it rang a faint bell...
"Isn't that the bug tamer? The one the Cleaner killed."
'Oh? Oh yeah!'
As I racked my brain, Shin-nim chimed in. Back when I'd summoned the Cleaner...
"You mean the bug tamer?"
"Fuck, it really is you."
Then it clicked—Jang Chun was the bug tamer's name. I told him, and he smacked his forehead. His face hardened, mana surging far beyond before. Ultimate spell incoming.
"Way more dangerous than I thought. Going all out now!"
"Heh heh heh."
No idea what set him off, but it suited me fine. Dragging this out would alert the Ma Tower—more mages, more hassle. Quick finish was ideal.
Scrtch! Scrtch-scr tch!
But first, a mountain to climb. Bugs piled into black waves, charging him. His magic seemed weak on defense. Let's see how he'd handle omnidirectional assault.
"Target is space, 30cm long, randomly slash ten thousand times."
Post-chant, mana filled his vicinity—not reaching me, but engulfing most bugs. Then it activated. Countless slashes shredded everything inside.
[Kagagagak!!]
Scrtch, scrtch-scr tch.
Dozens shredded per slash, yet the advance continued. Relentless, as if it were their sole purpose.
"Phew~ Finally over."
Scr tch... Scr tch...
But bugs had limits. Tough or not, they couldn't withstand Legend Upper mage spells. Sheer numbers were their only counter, hard to replenish in a city. Nature might've changed things.
"Good work."
Scr tch...
They'd done their job perfectly. Reached his nose, still inching closer even in pieces.
"Fuck! No way?!"
"Too late to notice now."
They held my mana, corpses included. Perfect spell fodder.
"Beast corpses feed other beasts—scatter to nature."
Mana threads linked me to the bugs. I inscribed spells on every corpse. Black ground etched with countless magic circles. Each with grenade-half power... but billions?
"Target is space, 20m by 20m...!"
[Kwagagagang!!!]
Corpses detonated before his spell. Chain explosions—bodies flung into blasts, shattering surroundings.
"Whoa."
Dust cleared to a crater. Nearby cars, buildings—gone. No trace of him either.
"He didn't die, right."
A solid hit exploiting his weakness, but he was Legend Upper. Probably had safeguards.
...Or maybe not? Attack specialist, maybe no defenses.
"You fucking idiot, think a sneak attack like that can kill me?!"
"Shit! My ear got torn, you bitch!"
"Damn."
Of course not. On a distant rooftop, a dress-clad woman and the man. Her too—a Legend Upper mage by feel.
'Trouble.'
Two Legend Uppers—no handicaps possible. Deep-sea magic it was? Ma Tower would notice...
"Mages have plenty of hearts! Why fight?!"
"Don't you see the witch next to him?!"
"For real? I thought you just got hooked on hunting mages."
"You crazy bitch?"
As I pondered, their banter drifted over. Mage hearts, mage hunting—familiar terms. Recalled a gallery comment.
Mage hunters aren't just one—maybe three, five, or more.
It hit me. I blasted mana through my arms and laughed maniacally.
"Hahahahaha! Finally! Found you!!"
"Huh?"
"This psycho..."
The culprits behind my month's hell—Ma Tower brawls, wanted posters. Right there.
"Mage hunters! I'll kill you all!!"
Catch them, and this bullshit frame-up ends. I swear to Shin-nim, I'll slaughter them.